At least 12 dead, 22 injured in bus accident on Islamabad-Lahore motorway

CHAKWAL, June 17 (SABAH): At least 12 people died and 22 sustained injuries in a bus accident on the Islamabad-Lahore motorway near Kallar Kahar on Saturday, according to rescue and police officials.

Deputy Commissioner Chakwal Quratulain Malik said in a statement said that 12 passengers including three women and tow children were killed in the deadly accident, adding that 22 passengers were injured out of them seven seriously injured passengers have been shifted to Rawalpindi hospitals. She said that total 34 passengers were present in the bus. The passenger bus was enroute to Jhang from Rawalpindi. She said that the accident took place due to failure of the breaks of the bus, adding that 10 passengers were killed on the spot.  

Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Farooq Ahmed confirmed the death toll to a private TV channel, adding that it could further increase.

Separately, the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) said in a statement that according to preliminary reports, the accident occurred at Kallar Kahar due to brake failure with a bus going to Lahore from Islamabad.

It added that the injured were being moved to a hospital for treatment.

The statement added that NHMP personnel were present at the site of the accident and engaged in rescue activities, monitored by DIG (Motorway) Mohammad Yusuf Malik and the sector commander, Commander Nafri.

The NHMP statement said that due to the accident, two motorways were closed while the third one was open for traffic.